Index-file.



N0. 698,62l. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

' W. E. BALL.

. INDEX FILE.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

- Momma QM,

Patented Apr. 29, I902. w. E. BALL INDEX FILE.

No 698,62l.

2 $haets8heet 2.

Warren Sra rns PATENT OFFICE.

lVlLLlAM BALL, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

iNDEX=FiLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,621, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed December 31,1900. Serial No, 41,715.

To (all 707M717, it 71mg concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Index-Files; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in account-files, and especially to an index for. short accounts in. which the entire sheet may be utilized and disclosed by simply swinging the sheet out at right angles to its normal position, suitable means being provided whereby the leaves and index-sheets may be readily removed and replaced.

More specifically,the present invention consists in the provision of an angular rack one wall of which is provided with a tubing to receive the card-retaining wire, which Wire is so mounted as to be capable of being operated to allow the cards to be removed, suitable mechanism being had tohold the wire in a locked relation within the tubing and means to hold the wire from interference with the sheets or index-cards when the latter are being placed upon or removed from the file.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists, further, in the novel construction, combination, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, andin which drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved index-iile. Fig. 2 is aview of the file with a portion of the sheets and index-cards swung at right angles to their normal position to disclose a certain account. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the walls of the rack. Fig. 4 is a View showing the retainingwire swung into a recess in the wall of the rack in position to allow an index card or (No model.)

tion has a right-angled side B. To the bottom is secured in any suitable manner a tube 0, which is open at its upper or outer end and is located parallel with the side wall of the rack and adjacent thereto. The upper end of said tube is cut away, as at C, to receive the free end of the index and sheet retaining wire D, the wall of the tube which extends be yond or above the cut-away portion serving as a stop to the rearward swing of said wire.

Said wireD is held to the outer face of the said wall of the rack by means of a strap E and has a partial rotary movement in a recess in said wall. This wire is bent to form a semicircular portion E, which is at-right angles to the straight end portions of the wire, said bent portion serving as a means to limit the downward throw of the Wire by its coming in contact with the upper edge of said side wall. The lower end of said wire on its outer arm is bent at right angles, as at F, and fastened to the outer face of said side wall is a spring H, the free end of which is designed to normally rest in a recess or notch K in the Wire to hold the latter in a locked relation within the tubing. This spring also serves another purpose-namely, as a stop to limit the upward throw of the wire by being placed across the path of the bent end F and against which said bent end is designed to strike when the wire is lifted high enough. On the inner wall of the side wall is a recess N, in which the free end of the tube-engaging portion of the wire is designed to engage when said wire is raised out of the tube and swung around so.

as to be out of the path of the edges of the index cards and sheets as they are being placed over or removed from the tubing, the cards and sheets having been first perforated, as will be understood.

From the foregoing it will be observed that when sheets and index-cards are mounted as shown and described when a person desires to have access to any particular sheet the upper sheets and cards may be swung at right angles to their normal or closed positions and the contents of the sheet may be easily seen. To remove the sheets, the end of the retaining-wire is swung so as to enter the recess in the rack, in which position it will be out of the way of the leaves and cards of the index.

Having thus described myinvention what I claim to be new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. An index-file, consisting in combination with the angled rack of the tube, the wire journaled to the rack and having a notch, one end of said wire bent at right angles, a spring secured at one end to the wall of the rack, its free end normally resting in the notchin the wire to hold same with one of its ends in said tube, and also serving as a stop to hold the wire to the rack, as set forth.

2. In combination with the angled rack, the tube, the index-retaining wire bent as shown and journaled to the wall of the rack, a spring secured to the outer wall of the rack and its free end bearing yieldingly against said wire, and the inner wall of the rack being recessed to receive one end of the wire as the latter is swung out of the path of theindex leaves and sheets as they are placed upon or removed from the file, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM E. BALL. 

